Ellen English Vickers, 82, of Tifton passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Legacy Village in Tifton. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2023, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Rev. Josh Bennett officiating. Mrs. Vickers will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 23, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mrs. Vickers will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Johnny Spurlin, Joe Spurlin, Ken Spurlin, Adam Spurlin, Jake Spurlin and Jim Wall will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of Legacy Village in Tifton and former members of the ABAC Tennis Team, ABAC Softball Team and Cheerleaders.
Born June 21, 1940, in Mitchell, Georgia, Mrs. Vickers was the daughter of the late William Thomas English and Ivelyn Jordan English. She was also preceded in death by her husband, James Winford “Vic” Vickers; one brother, Tommy English; and one sister, Joyce Allen. She received her Master’s Degree from Georgia Southern and, before retiring, she was a professor and coach at ABAC. She was a member of Tifton’s First Baptist Church.
Mrs. Vickers loved her family and friends fiercely and enjoyed spending time with them, especially her nieces and nephews. She was an avid sports enthusiast interested in a wide variety of athletic events and a staunch Alabama Crimson Tide fan. She loved animals, particularly Heidi her beloved German Shorthaired Pointer. She loved shopping and was always ready for a road trip. She enjoyed gardening despite her physical limitations of late, but anyone that knew her, knew those limitations were not very limiting at all. She was strong willed, determined and never gave up. Her smile was infectious and her personality was big. She instantly lit up a room when she entered it and was always so very happy to see her friends. She was known by many names (terms of endearment) to those that knew and loved her - Mrs. Ellen, Big E, Vickers, Vic, Coach, 1 and 1, Pooh - a testament to the profound impact she had on so many.
Mrs. Vickers is survived by one daughter, Ivey Vickers of Tifton; one sister, Krystal Ponder of Metter; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the ABAC Athletic Department, 2802 Moore Highway, ABAC 1000, Tifton, GA 31793.